SHARING THE LOVE OF GOD

The LOVE of GOD is too wonderful to keep to ourselves! It is our joy to share that love with those around us. We believe it is our mission to take the Good News of Jesus Christ outside the walls of our church. You can be a part of it by joining with is in our endeavors, whether it's taking a trip or helping to send someone else.

PRAYER AND CARE

We are a church that wants to be known as a people of prayer. Our Prayer Room is available to you when you feel the need to spend some time alone with God. Our prayer team will stand with you in prayer before, during, and after our worship services.

Prayer Vigils are scheduled twice a year in the spring and fall. We set aside 12 hours to lift up the concerns of our church, our community, and our world to God in prayer.

The Prayer Chain is a group of people who are ready to pray for needs at a moment's notice, and we have Prayer Warriors who are ready and willing to focus their prayers on specific needs long term.

FIND YOUR GIFTS

We foster the discovery of each person's gifts and their calling from God and invite you to join with us in giving those gifts to the world around us. Each of us has something unique to share!

LOCAL MONTHLY MISSIONS

Each month we focus on the ministry of a local organization or cause and give of ourselves and our means to help them in their work. We also maintain a Community Emergency Fund to aid local families in a tight spot. We are privileged to help provide groceries, medicine, fuel oil, and other necessities in time of need to the members of our community.

COMMUNITY WORK TEAMS

These teams lend a helping hand to families in our community. A recent project found our team replacing a porch in downtown York Springs.

GETTYSBURG SOUP KITCHEN

Volunteers from our church serve at the soup kitchen 2-3 times a year. We provide the day's noon meal and share it with all who come, joining them at the table when the serving is done.

KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY

This ministry of men to men conducts spiritual weekends within State and Federal Prisons. Ministry members meet monthly to conduct reunions with inmates for mutual encouragement and support. We hope to involve women more actively as opportunities become available within the women's prisons of central Pennsylvania.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH APPRECIATION

Each year we set aside a day to say "thanks" to our community with a free lunch! We serve hot dogs, chips, and sodas to all who stop by our booth near the post office downtown. It's a great day and a great way to invite all the kids to our summer Vacation Bible School.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Each year scholarships are awarded to students who are active in the life of YSUMC and are beginning or continuing their education full-time at an accredited college, university, or trade school. Applications are accepted beginning January 1st for the June 1st deadline. For a brochure and an application, email scholarships@ysumc.org.

FREE THANKSGIVING MEAL

One of our newest community projects is offering a free turkey dinner with all the trimmings to our friends and neighbors. Offered in November near Thanksgiving, this meal is a feast with all the trimmings, including lots and lots of homemade pies from the ladies of our church!

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

At Christmastime, we share our thoughts and prayers with those around us through our annual Advent Devotional. This booklet is mailed to all the homes in York Springs and contains an inspirational reading and prayer for each day of the Advent season. Members and friends of YSUMC sharpen their pencils in the fall to make this Christmas gift possible.

ADAMS COUNTY HEAD START

We believe strongly in the value of education, and YSUMC is proud to share our facility with this early intervention education program. Head Start holds class during the school year in our fellowship area downstairs.

MISSISSIPPI

Rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina

Recently some of our church members had the privilege of going toMississippi to stay in camps sponsored by the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) while working with the residents there to rebuild after the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina.  The camps were managed by a few paid staff members who left their “normal” lives to serve God through UMCOR.  There were also volunteer staff members who dedicated a lot of their time to service through UMCOR.

UMCOR is the humanitarian relief and development agency of the United Methodist Church.  For 65 years UMCOR has responded internationally to natural or human made disasters-those interruptions of such magnitude that they overwhelm a community's ability to recover on its own. Itsmission is to alleviate human suffering—whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster—with open minds and hearts to all people.  Visit UMCOR to learn more about this relief agency.

A Mission Team is returning to Mississippi again in April 2008 tocontinue the work. Email us at info@ysumc.org for details.

 

SOUTH DAKOTA

Reaching out to the Lakota People

Two teams from York Springs have journeyed to Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota in the past few years. We have developed a special bond with the Lakota people there and look forward to returning there again soon.

Our mission work included home repairs, working in the Reservation's clothing bank and food pantry, sewing curtains and pillows, and sharing the love of Christ with people in need.

MISSION CENTRAL

Working at Mission Central's headquarters in Mechanicsburg, PA is a very rewarding experience. This ministry of the Central PA Conference of the United Methodist Church provides aid and distributes relief and mission materials locally, nationally, and worldwide.

We never know what specific tasks we will be doing when we volunteer to work at Mission Central, but we have done things such as putting together personal care kits (which include a towel, washcloth, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, soap), candy kits for Christmas, and school kits (filling tote bags with all types of school supplies).

We collect computers quarterly to be sent to Mission Central to be refurbished for redistribution worldwise, as well as supplies to fill the various kits and packages they ship all around the world. We really enjoy being a part of the Mission Work here in Central Pennsylvania.

MEXICO

Terry and Muriel Henderson are missionaries serving in Tiancualpican Puebla, Mexico. YSUMC supports them as our "Covenant Missionaries". Their ministry, Give Ye Them To Eat, strengthens the capabilities of marginalized people and communities through community, agricultural, and livestock development programs, community and family health programs, and church and faith development.